NFL Draft Report

By Joe Buscaglia

Mario's $18.8 million cap hit a "non-issue" to Bills

by Joe Buscaglia,posted Feb 22 2014 10:16AM

With loads of cap space, the Buffalo Bills don't have to make many hard decisions with some of the better players on their roster. And even though they employ a player with a roster bonus and salary jump that would make most front offices squirm, the Bills are intent on standing pat.

The highest paid defensive player in NFL history still resides on the Bills roster and Mario Williams won't need to worry about restructuring his deal. Williams is owed a $10.6 million roster bonus with the start of the new league year in March, which is more money than any single player from Buffalo's roster is owed for their salary this season.

The bonus is paired with a $6.4 million jump in the defensive end's cap number with the Bills, accounting for $18.8 million of Buffalo's annual salary allotment. Normally with a cap figure as jarring as the one Williams is owed, teams will work to restructure the deal.

Bills general manager Doug Whaley isn't concerned about it.

"At this time, non-issue," he said Friday. "We're comfortable where it is right now."

Williams has back-to-back double-digit seasons, collecting 23.5 sacks and forcing three fumbles during his first two seasons in Buffalo. Including 2014, the defensive end has four years left on his contract, with cap numbers of $18.8 million, $19 million (2015), $19.9 million (2016) and $16.5 million (2017).